Slingbow arrow rest

ABSTRACT

A slingshot having an arrow rest is described. The slingshot includes a handle, a riser unit and a stabilizer unit. The riser unit and the stabilizer unit are attached to a top of the handle. A forward portion of the stabilizer unit extends perpendicular from a top of the handle in a same direction in which an arrow or projectile would be projected from the slingshot. The slingshot further includes a removable arrow rest attached to the stabilizer unit, the removable arrow rest including a cylinder for resting an arrow, a bracket supporting the cylinder, and a receptacle for inserting the forward portion of the stabilizer unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/852,741 filed on Mar. 21, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to slingshots and slingshot bows, also known as slingbows, and more particularly to an arrow rest for such devices.

BACKGROUND

A traditional slingshot includes a Y-shaped frame often made of wood, having a handle and two arms, or risers, each of which is collected to a length of rubber and/or elastic, which may comprise a strip or a tube or other enlongated shape. The two rubber strips are connected to a pouch, most often made of leather, in which a projectile such as a small rock can be placed. The user holds the handle in one hand, and with the other hand, pulls back on the pouch while holding the projectile therein. The rubber strips stretch and when the user releases the pouch, the rubber strips contract, accelerating the pouch and the projectile. The projectile is thrown from the pouch in a direction substantially perpendicular to the handle and opposite to the direction in which the pouch was pulled. Modern slingshot designs have used more advanced features, including more advanced materials and ergonomic designs. In addition, traditional slingshots have also been modified to provide a slingshot bow variety, also known as a slingbow for shooting arrows or bolts, instead of or in addition to projectiles. In order to function as a slingbow, or to at least provide a certain degree of control, the device typically needs some type of rest to support the arrow when flocking, aiming, and/or shooting the arrow. Other mechanisms for providing a slingbow arrow rest have been described and exist. However, these solutions are deficient insofar as once they are modified for slingbow functions, they are no longer capable of functioning as a slingshot or require substantial modification or effort to revert.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the present disclosure discloses an arrow rest device for a slingshot. The arrow rest device includes a bracket, a cylinder for resting an arrow, and a receptacle for inserting a stabilizer unit of a slingshot. When the stabilizer unit of the slingshot is inserted in the receptacle, the cylinder for resting the arrow is disposed between two risers of the slingshot.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure discloses an additional arrow rest device for a slingshot. The arrow rest device includes a bracket, a cylinder for resting an arrow, a receptacle within the bracket for inserting a forward portion of a stabilizer unit of a slingshot, and a removable disc insert disposed within an inner circumference of the cylinder, for resting the arrow.

In still another embodiment, the present disclosure discloses a slingshot that includes a handle, a riser unit and a stabilizer unit. The riser unit and the stabilizer unit are attached to a top of the handle. A forward portion of the stabilizer unit extends perpendicular from a top of the handle in a same direction in which an arrow or projectile would be projected from the slingshot. The slingshot further includes a removable arrow rest attached to the stabilizer unit, the removable arrow rest including a cylinder for resting an arrow, a bracket supporting the cylinder, and a receptacle for inserting the forward portion of the stabilizer unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The teachings of the present disclosure can be readily understood by considering the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary slingshot or slingbow apparatus for use in connection with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary slingbow arrow rest, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary brush insert, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary slingbow arrow rest with brush insert, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose an improved slingshot/slingbow apparatus with a removable, clip-on/clip-off arrow rest. In one example, the arrow rest is arranged for use with any number of interchangeable brush inserts. Similarly, in one example the arrow rest further supports any number of accessories via an accessory rail. To aid in understanding, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary slingshot 100 that may be adapted in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. More specifically, slingshot 100 comprises a handle 110, a stabilizer unit 120 and a riser unit 130. The handle 110 may comprise any suitable material such as molded plastic, a composite such as carbon fiber, machined or cast aluminum, and so forth and may take any suitable shape that can be grasped by a hand. In one embodiment, the handle 110 may be molded for a right hand or a left hand grip. The handle 110 is connected to both stabilizer unit 120 and riser unit 130. For example, the stabilizer unit 120 may include an adjustment/locking mechanism 126 in a central portion of the stabilizer unit. In one embodiment, stabilizer unit 120 is composed of steel or aluminum rod or tubing and forms a unitary length that extends from one side of a wrist brace 125 up to the top of the handle, extends forward of the handle and bends in a U-shape, extends back over the handle and back to the other side of the wrist brace 125. In one embodiment, the adjustment/locking mechanism 126 is formed integrally with the stabilizer unit 120. For example, the adjustment/locking mechanism 126 may be welded or bonded in another manner to the rod/tubing of the stabilizer unit 120. In addition, the shape of the adjustment/locking mechanism 126 may be such that either or both of the handle 110 and the riser unit 130 are slidably attached to the stabilizer unit 120. For example, the adjustment/locking mechanism 126 may simply comprise a plate that is threaded with a screw attached to a washer. When the screw is loosened, the handle 110, the stabilizer unit 120 and/or the riser unit 130 may be repositioned relative to one another, while the components essentially remain attached to one another. When the screw is tightened, the three components remain in a fixed in position. In another embodiment, the screw may be threaded into an opening within the top of the handle.

In one embodiment, the riser unit 130 is composed of the same or other similar suitable material as the stabilizer unit 120. The riser unit 130 includes two risers 135, also referred to as arms, which extend forward and above the top of the handle 110. A central portion of the riser unit 130 sits above the handle 110 and above tubing of the central portion of stabilizer unit 120, but is below the adjustment/locking mechanism 126. The riser unit 130 also extends behind the handle 110 and behind the adjustment/locking mechanism 126, where the portions comprising the two risers 135 are connected to one another in a U-shape behind the handle, thus forming the integrated riser unit 130 that comprises both risers 135. As mentioned above, the riser unit 130 may be slidably attached to the stabilizer unit 120 and the handle 110. Therefore, the riser unit may be moved forward or backward relative to the handle allowing the slingbow 100 to accommodate users of different sizes, arm lengths, and strength as well as to as to adjust for the anticipated distances to desired targets.

Slingbow 110 includes two lengths of elastic 140 which are connected to each of the two risers 135 respectively. In one embodiment, the elastics 140 comprise rubber, rubber tubing or other elastomeric material. The opposite end of each of the elastics 140 is connected to pouch 150. When the pouch is pulled back away from the handle, the elastics 140 stretch, and when released, the contraction of the elastics 140 will propel a projectile in the pouch toward a target. In order to improve stability and accuracy, in one embodiment slingbow 100 includes wrist brace 125, which may also be referred to as a wrist guard, forearm strap or forearm brace. In one embodiment, wrist brace 125 is formed integrally with stabilizer unit 120. For example, the portion of stabilizer unit 120 that extends behind the top of handle 110 may form a single loop of bent steel tube such that when a user grasps the handle 110, the wrist brace 125 will lay over the top of the forearm/wrist of the arm that is used to grasp the handle. For example, the entire stabilizer unit 120, including wrist brace 125, may comprise a single rod or tube, e.g., a one quarter inch steel rod. In another embodiment, the wrist brace 125 is welded or bonded to the stabilizer unit 120 such that the wrist brace 125 is integral with the stabilizer unit 120. In still another embodiment, the wrist brace 125 comprises a leather strap that is attached on two sides to the stabilizer unit 120.

It should be noted that the foregoing examples are provided by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Thus, it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to any particular type or form of wrist strap, handle, stabilizer unit, riser unit, and so forth, nor is the present disclosure limited to any particular material or materials used to fabricate the exemplary slingshot/slingbow components described above.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary arrow rest 200 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, arrow rest 200 comprises any suitable material such as molded plastic, a composite such as carbon fiber, machined or cast aluminum, and so forth. Arrow rest 200 includes a main body or bracket 210 and a cylinder 220 for supporting an arrow to be shot. Below or at the bottom of the bracket 210 is an opening or receptacle 230 for coupling the arrow rest 200 with a slingshot and/or slingbow, such as slingshot 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. In particular, the U-shaped portion of stabilizer unit 120 that extends in a forward portion in front of the handle 110 in FIG. 1 may be inserted into the receptacle 230. The dimensions and size of receptacle 230 may be such that the stabilizer unit 120 may fit tightly within the receptacle 230. In one embodiment, the fit is such that the force of an arrow sliding over the arrow rest when propelled by a slingshot/slingbow will not separate the stabilizer unit 120 from the receptacle 230. In one embodiment, the width of arrow rest 200 (e.g., along the X-axis as illustrated in FIG. 2) is such that the width is no greater than a smallest distance between the two risers 135 of riser unit 130 in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, exemplary dimensions of the bracket 210 are: 38 mm in width, 50 mm in length (e.g., along the Y-axis) and 58 mm in height (e.g., along the Z-axis).

In one embodiment, the arrow rest 200 is proportioned such that a center of cylinder 220 or a lowest point (e.g., along the Z-axis) of an inner circumference of the cylinder 220 sits along a line that extends between the two points where the risers 135 attach to the elastics 140 in FIG. 1. In this way, an arrow that is flocked in the pouch 150 of FIG. 1 and which is supported by the arrow rest 200 will lie substantially parallel to a line that extends in the same direction as the straight parallel portions of stabilizer unit 120 and riser unit 130. In one embodiment, exemplary dimensions of the cylinder 220 are: 48 mm outer diameter, 42 mm inner diameter and 20 mm long (e.g., along the Y-axis).

In one embodiment, the cylinder 220 includes an inner lip 225 for use in receiving and securing a brush insert, which is described below. The inner lip 225 allows the brush insert to be inserted into cylinder 220 and prevents the brush insert from falling out of the arrow rest. In one embodiment, the arrow rest 200 includes an opening 222 in the circumference of the cylinder 220 for use in flocking arrows. In particular, instead of nocking an arrow through the center of cylinder 220, the arrow can be nocked sideways. This allows the arrow to be nocked more quickly. In addition, the arrow can be nocked more safely insofar as the elastics do not need to be extended in order to support the arrow on the arrow rest.

In one embodiment, the arrow rest 200 also includes an accessory rail 240 below the bracket 210 and below the receptacle 230. In one embodiment, the accessory rail 240 comprises a Picatinny rail, a Weaver rail or the like. In particular a Picatinny rail is a standardized mounting platform for the placement of firearm accessories, such as scopes, lasers, flashlights, telescopes, knives/bayonets and so forth. In one embodiment, the accessory rail 240 may be used for mounting a line reel, e.g., for use in fishing/fish hunting. For example, a standard fishing line may be wound around the line reel and the end of the line may be attached to an arrow to be shot. When the arrow is shot, the line may play-out as the arrow flies towards a target. Whether or not the arrow strikes a target, the arrow, or the arrow and the target, may be retrieved by winding the line on the line reel. The accessory rail is a convenient location to mount the line reel forward of the handle and away from much of the remaining structure of the slingshot/slingbow. In addition, the ease of mounting and removing accessories from the accessory rail mounted in such location provides greater versatility to the slingshot/slingbow insofar as it can quickly and easily be modified for target shooting, hunting, fishing/fish hunting, night use, day use, and so forth. In one embodiment, exemplary dimensions of the accessory rail 140 are: 10 mm thick (e.g., along the Z-axis), 21 mm wide and 40 mm long.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary removable brush insert 300 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, brush insert 300 is disc with a plurality of groups/sets of bristles 310 intended to be inserted into the cylinder 220 of FIG. 2 and sit within an inner circumference of the cylinder 220. In one embodiment, cylinder 220 in FIG. 2 includes an inner lip 225 which allows the brush insert 300 to be inserted into cylinder 220 and prevents the brush insert 300 from falling out of the arrow rest. Although arrow rest 200 may be used substantially as shown in FIG. 2 (i.e., without a brush insert), over time arrows may deteriorate and become damaged when the arrows, and the fletching in particular, pass over the cylinder 220 as the arrow is shot. In one embodiment, the several groups of bristles 310 form a central opening within the center of the disc and support an arrow shaft placed in the center from several directions. As a shot arrow passes through the brush insert 300, the feathers of the arrow can pass through any one of the multiple gaps between the several groups of bristles 310. Ultimately this results in less wear and tear on the arrow. In addition, the accuracy of the shot is improved insofar as the path of the arrow is not disrupted as the arrow passes through the arrow rest. For example, if the arrow rest 200 of FIG. 2 is used without a brush insert, the direction of flight of the arrow as it is released and passes through the cylinder 220 may be disrupted when the fletching needs to pass over the inner circumference of the cylinder 220 upon which the arrow is resting. The brush insert 300 eliminates this drawback with using the arrow rest 220 without such insert.

It should be noted that the brush insert 300 may include any number of sets or groups of bristles 310. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, there are seven groups of bristles 310. However, in another embodiment there may be four sets of bristles, five sets of bristles, nine sets of bristles, or any other number of sets of bristles. Similarly, in another embodiment, the brush insert 300 may comprise a substantially uniform ring of bristles around the center. In other words, there are no distinct sets of bristles, or no gaps or spaces between the sets. In addition, in one embodiment the brush insert 300 comprises a completely circular disc. However, in another embodiment, the brush insert 300 includes an opening 320 that allows an arrow to be inserted into the brush insert from the side. In one embodiment, the opening 320 is aligned with the opening 222 of the arrow rest 200. In one embodiment, the minimum size of the opening 320 is such that an arrow shaft can pass between the ends of the opening.

In one embodiment, the brush insert 300 may comprise a rigid plastic disc and the bristles may be composed of nylon or similar material. In one embodiment, the brush insert 300 is removable from, but fits integrally within the inner circumference of cylinder 220 of arrow rest 200 in FIG. 2. In one embodiment, the bristles are approximately 13 mm long and leave a 12 mm diameter hole in the center of the brush insert 300 for loosely but securely supporting the length of an arrow.

In one embodiment, a system may comprise an arrow rest, such as arrow rest 200 of FIG. 2, and a number of interchangeable, removable brush inserts for various uses. For example, one brush insert may have four sets of bristles and four gaps for use with arrows having four-feather fletching, a circular disc may be substituted when shooting bolts, or different users that share the same slingshot/slingbow may simply have different preferences for the brush insert configuration. For example, some users may prefer that there is no contact at all between the brush and the fletching, whereas other might not care, or might instead prefer that there be a substantially uniform contact around the circumference of the arrow shaft. This would come at the expense of contacting the fletching when the tail end of the arrow passes through the brush insert guide, but may be better for novice users or for those who would prefer less wear and tear on their arrow fletching.

As further illustration, FIG. 4 shows a front view of arrow rest 200 with brush insert 300 inserted within cylinder 220. Identical reference numerals to those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are used to identify the same components in the prior figures.

The foregoing description, in conjunction with the figures illustrates an improved slingshot/slingbow apparatus with a removable, clip-on/clip-off arrow rest that is arranged for use with any number of interchangeable brush inserts and which can support any number of accessories via an accessory rail. While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An arrow rest device for a slingshot, comprising: a bracket; a cylinder for resting an arrow; and a receptacle for inserting a stabilizer unit of a slingshot, wherein when the stabilizer unit of the slingshot is inserted in the receptacle, the cylinder for resting the arrow is disposed between two risers of the slingshot.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the slingshot comprises: the stabilizer unit; and a riser unit comprising the two risers.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the riser unit is slidably attached to the stabilizer unit.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the slingshot further comprises: a handle.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein a top of the handle is attached to a central portion of the riser unit and to a central portion of the stabilizer unit.
 6. The device of claim 2, wherein the slingshot further comprises: an elastic band attached to each of the two risers.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein each elastic band is attached on one end to one of the two risers and is attached on another end to a pouch.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the arrow rest device further comprises: an accessory rail.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the accessory rail is disposed below the bracket and below the receptacle.
 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the accessory rail comprises a Picatinny rail.
 11. The device of claim 8, wherein the accessory rail is for mounting one of: a flashlight, a telescope, a laser, a line reel or a knife.
 12. The device of claim 1, wherein the cylinder comprises an opening in the circumference of the cylinder for receiving an arrow.
 13. The device of claim 1, wherein the bracket, the cylinder and the receptacle are formed in an integral unit.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein the bracket supports the cylinder.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is formed within the bracket.
 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the cylinder is configured for receiving a brush insert.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the cylinder includes an inner lip for securing the brush insert.
 18. The device of claim 16, wherein the brush insert comprises a disc with a plurality of bristles.
 19. The device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of bristles form a central opening in the center of the disc.
 20. The device of claim 18, wherein the brush insert comprises an opening in a circumference of the disc for inserting an arrow.
 21. An arrow rest device for a slingshot, comprising: a cylinder for resting an arrow; a bracket supporting the cylinder; a receptacle within the bracket for inserting a forward portion of a stabilizer unit of a slingshot; and a disc insert removably disposed within an inner circumference of the cylinder, for resting the arrow.
 22. A slingshot comprising: a handle; a riser unit; a stabilizer unit, wherein the riser unit and the stabilizer unit are attached to a top of the handle, wherein a forward portion of the stabilizer unit extends perpendicular from a top of the handle in a same direction in which an arrow or projectile is projected from the slingshot; and an arrow rest removably attached to the stabilizer unit, the arrow rest comprising: a cylinder for resting an arrow; a bracket supporting the cylinder; and a receptacle for inserting the forward portion of the stabilizer unit.
 23. The slingshot of claim 22, wherein the slingshot is configured for shooting an arrow when the arrow rest is attached to the stabilizer unit and is configured for shooting a projectile when the arrow rest is removed. 